Futuremark 3DMark05 1.2.0	Source: FutureMark

3DMark05 is best suited for the latest generation of DirectX9.0 graphics cards. It is the first benchmark to require a DirectX9.0 compliant hardware with support for Pixel Shaders 2.0 or higher! By combining high quality 3D tests, CPU tests, feature tests, image quality tools, and much more, 3DMark05 is a premium benchmark for evaluating the latest generation of gaming hardware.

Futuremark 3DMark05 1.2.0
Overall	Points	Ranking
Asus EAX1900XTX 2DHTV/512M/A	12098
Asus EAX1950PRO/HTDP/256M/A	10260
MSI NX8800GTX-T2D768E	15251
Foxconn FV-N88SMCD2-ONOC	14674
MSI NX8800GTS-T2D320E-HD-OC	14703
GeForce 8600GTS SLI	15207
Foxconn 8600GTS-256	11640
MSI NX8600GTS-T2D256E-OC	11676
Albatron 8600GT-256	9701
MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE	13781
MSI NX7900GTX-T2D512E	11071
MSI NX7900GS-T2D512E-OC	8630
Gigabyte GV-NX76T256D-RH	5711
Biostar Sigma-Gate GeForce 7600GS	4998
MSI NX8500GT-TD256E	4457
MSI NX8500GT-TD256E (676/1040)	5138

The MSI NX8500GT-TD256E scores exactly where we expect it to... for an entry level videocard. Overclocking allows the GeForce 8500GT to break 5000 points, which just happens to look paltry next to a fleet of expensive flagship videocards three or four times as expensive. 5000 points will give you Ok gaming in most titles at 1024x768 with no AA or AF, and the MSI NX8500GT-TD256E costs less than a $100.

FutureMark 3DMark06 1.0.2	Source: FutureMark

3DMark06 is the worldwide standard in advanced 3D game performance benchmarking. A fundamental tool for every company in the PC industry as well as PC users and gamers, 3DMark06 uses advanced real-time 3D game workloads to measure PC performance using a suite of DirectX 9 3D graphics tests, CPU tests, and 3D feature tests. 3DMark06 tests include all new HDR/SM3.0 graphics tests, SM2.0 graphics tests, AI and physics driven single and multiple cores or processor CPU tests and a collection of comprehensive feature tests to reliably measure next generation gaming performance today.

Futuremark 3DMark06 1.0.2
Overall:	Points	Ranking
Asus EAX1900XTX 2DHTV/512M/A	6060
Asus EAX1950PRO/HTDP/256M/A	4904
MSI NX8800GTX-T2D768E	9785
Foxconn FV-N88SMCD2-ONOC	8799
MSI NX8800GTS-T2D320E-HD-OC	8777
GeForce 8600GTS SLI	8827
Foxconn 8600GTS-256	5556
MSI NX8600GTS-T2D256E-OC	5518
Albatron 8600GT-256	4648
MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE	8057
MSI NX7900GTX-T2D512E	6173
MSI NX7900GS-T2D512E-OC	4945
Gigabyte GV-NX76T256D-RH	3268
Biostar Sigma-Gate GeForce 7600GS	2654
MSI NX8500GT-TD256E	2240
MSI NX8500GT-TD256E (676/1040)	2466
SM2.0	Points	Ranking
Asus EAX1900XTX 2DHTV/512M/A	2342
Asus EAX1950PRO/HTDP/256M/A	1949
MSI NX8800GTX-T2D768E	4551
Foxconn FV-N88SMCD2-ONOC	4010
MSI NX8800GTS-T2D320E-HD-OC	3958
GeForce 8600GTS SLI	4157
Foxconn 8600GTS-256	2376
MSI NX8600GTS-T2D256E-OC	2343
Albatron 8600GT-256	1949
MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE	3619
MSI NX7900GTX-T2D512E	2579
MSI NX7900GS-T2D512E-OC	1974
Gigabyte GV-NX76T256D-RH	1286
Biostar Sigma-Gate GeForce 7600GS	1007
MSI NX8500GT-TD256E	866
MSI NX8500GT-TD256E (676/1040)	1024
HDR/SM3.0	Points	Ranking
Asus EAX1900XTX 2DHTV/512M/A	2614
Asus EAX1950PRO/HTDP/256M/A	2011
MSI NX8800GTX-T2D768E	4688
Foxconn FV-N88SMCD2-ONOC	3976
MSI NX8800GTS-T2D320E-HD-OC	4006
GeForce 8600GTS SLI	3769
Foxconn 8600GTS-256	2083
MSI NX8600GTS-T2D256E-OC	2085
Albatron 8600GT-256	1675
MSI NX7950GX2-T2D1GE	3466
MSI NX7900GTX-T2D512E	2494
MSI NX7900GS-T2D512E-OC	1935
Gigabyte GV-NX76T256D-RH	1163
Biostar Sigma-Gate GeForce 7600GS	1097
MSI NX8500GT-TD256E	757
MSI NX8500GT-TD256E (676/1040)	975

3DMark06 results place the hundred dollar MSI NX8500GT-TD256E videocard towards the lower end of this full spectrum, but for its class it does okay. The Geforce 8600GT/GTS is really looking good about now, but that's another review.